On 6 February 1933, Taoiseach Eamon de Valera officially opened the new high-powered RTÉ radio station located at Athlone in the centre of the country.

Speaking in Irish, the Taoiseach described the installation in symbolic terms, "Droichead nua Átha Luain is ea é, droichead idir na Gaeil in Éirinn agus Gaeil in imirce"  "It is the new bridge of Athlone, a bridge between the Irish in Ireland and the emigrant Irish."

A view of RTÉ Radio's transmitting station and transmitter in Athlone, County Westmeath, shortly after it opened in the 1930s. The buildings are partly obscured by trees.

The Athlone transmitter was officially opened on 6 February 1933. The 60kw transmitter was later increased to 100kw. 2RN, the forerunner of RTÉ Radio, covered the Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932 using the Athlone transmitter.

The photograph was taken on 6 February 1933.

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